U.S. patent application number 10/345077 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-08 for plug and socket holder for replaceably holding diode-based light sources and other radiation sources and receivers.
Invention is credited to Plishner, Paul J..
Application Number | 20040132344 10/345077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32684717 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040132344 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Plishner, Paul J. |
July 8, 2004 |
PLUG AND SOCKET HOLDER FOR REPLACEABLY HOLDING DIODE-BASED LIGHT
SOURCES AND OTHER RADIATION SOURCES AND RECEIVERS
Abstract
A holder (100) for holding typically a plurality of diodes (301
301' 301" 301'") each able to serve as a source or receiver of
visible or invisible radiation, the holder (100) including a plug
(10) and socket (11), with the socket (11) bearing the diodes (301
301' 301" 301'") and formed so as to have an elongated
longitudinally extending cavity therein and so as to include a
plurality of longitudinally spaced mutually insulated first contact
elements (41) disposed within the cavity, and with the plug (10)
slidably registering with the cavity between advanced and retracted
positions and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced,
mutually insulated second contact elements (20 21 83) disposed
along its length and which are in engagement with the first contact
elements (41) only when the plug (10) is in its advanced position
and rotated relative to the socket (11).
Inventors: |
Plishner, Paul J.;
(Southampton, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WARE FRESSOLA VAN DER SLUYS &
ADOLPHSON, LLP
BRADFORD GREEN BUILDING 5
755 MAIN STREET, P O BOX 224
MONROE
CT
06468
US
|
Family ID: |
32684717 |
Appl. No.: |
10/345077 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60438206 |
Jan 6, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/668 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 45/44 20200101;
H05B 45/30 20200101; H01R 2107/00 20130101; H01R 13/7172 20130101;
H01R 24/58 20130101; H01R 13/717 20130101; H01R 13/7175
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/668 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/625 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A holder (100), comprising a plug (10) and socket (11), wherein
the socket (11) includes a diode (301 301' 301" 301'") able to
serve as a source or receiver of visible or invisible radiation,
wherein the socket (11) has an elongated longitudinally extending
cavity formed therein as the inner surface of a shell (32) and
includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced mutually insulated
first contact elements (41) disposed within said cavity, wherein
the plug (10) slidably registers with said cavity between advanced
and retracted positions and has a leading end directed toward the
base of said cavity, wherein the plug (10) includes a plurality of
longitudinally spaced, mutually insulated second contact elements
(20 21 83) disposed along said plug (10), and wherein the holder
(100) includes means (18 19 34 36) maintaining a predetermined
angular orientation between said plug (10) and socket (11) during
relative sliding thereof and permitting relative rotation thereof
at said plug advanced position, said first contact elements (41)
and second contact elements (20 21 83) being out of engagement at
said predetermined angular orientation and in engagement upon
rotation in a single predetermined sense from said predetermined
angular orientation to a closed contact position.
2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the diode (301 301' 301" 301'")
is a light-emitting diode (LED).
3. The holder of claim 1, wherein the diode (301 301' 301" 301'")
is a laser diode.
4. The holder of claim 1, wherein the diode (301 301' 301" 301'")
is a photocell diode.
5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the diode (301 301' 301" 301'")
is a microwave diode.
6. The holder (100) of claim 1, wherein the holder (100) includes a
controller (200 400) for controlling current to the diode (301 301'
301" 301'").
7. The holder (100) of claim 6, wherein the controller (200 400) is
a resistor.
8. The holder (100) of claim 6, wherein the controller (200 400) is
an integrated circuit.
9. The holder (100) of claim 6, wherein the controller (200 400)
controls a switchable bank (201) of resistors.
10. The holder (100) of claim 6, wherein socket (100) includes a
plurality of diodes (301 301' 301" 301'"), and wherein the
controller (400) controls a plurality of banks (201) of resistors,
each for limiting current to a respective diode (301) or a
series/parallel array (301' 301") of diodes.
11. The holder (100) of claim 6, wherein the diode (301 301' 301"
301'") is provided as a series/parallel array (301' 301") of
individual diodes (301'").
12. The holder (100) of claim 11, wherein the array (301' 301") of
diodes (301'") is provided as either a two-dimensional array or a
three-dimensional array.
13. The holder (100) of claim 11, wherein the array (301' 301") of
diodes (301'") is provided as either a purely series array or a
purely parallel array or a series/parallel array.
14. The holder (100) of claim 11, wherein the output of the
individual diodes (301'") is in phased relation, using for the
individual diodes (301'") either diode sources or diode receivers
of radiation.
15. The holder (100) of claim 1, including a plurality of
longitudinally aligned sets of said longitudinally spaced second
contact elements (20 21 83) and a corresponding plurality of
longitudinally aligned sets of said first longitudinally spaced
contact elements (41) wherein the peripheries of said sets of
second contact elements (20 21 83) are of arcuate configuration
extending circumferentially about the plug (10) for less than
360.degree. and in a straight line, lengthwise of the holder
(100).
16. The holder (100) of claim 1, wherein said socket (11) includes
a well portion defined by a cylindrical wall, the inner surface
thereof having longitudinally spaced recesses (40) formed therein,
said first contact elements (41) being located in said recesses
(40) and normally projecting above the upper edges thereof and
being resiliently inwardly urged by said second contact elements
(20 21 83) during engagement therewith, and including lugs
connected to said first contact elements (41) and projecting
through said cylindrical wall.
17. The holder (100) of claim 1, wherein said orienting means (18
19 34 36) is defined by at least one longitudinally extending
groove (34 36) formed in one of said holder members (10 11) and at
least one slidably engaging protuberance (18 19) mounted on the
other of said members (10 11).
18. The holder (100) of claim 1, wherein the plug (10) and socket
(11) each include in a respective longitudinally extending center
cavity (510 511) an end of at least one conductor adapted for
conveying high frequency signals and means for connecting the
ends.
19. The holder (100) of claim 18, wherein the conductor adapted for
conveying the high frequency signals in the socket (11) is
terminated in an integrated circuit embedded in the socket
(11).
20. The holder (100) of claim 18, wherein the conductor adapted for
conveying the high frequency signals in the socket (11) is
terminated in at least one of the diodes (301 301') held by the
socket (11).
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Reference is made to and priority claimed from U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. TBD filed Jan. 6, 2003, using
Express Mail No. EV 137 072 799 US, entitled, PLUG AND SOCKET
HOLDER FOR REPLACEABLY HOLDING DIODE-BASED LIGHT SOURCES AND OTHER
RADIATION SOURCES AND RECEIVERS.
[0002] The present invention is related to the following co-filed
U.S. application:
[0003] Ser. No. TBD, entitled CONNECTOR HAVING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
EMBEDDED IN THE CONNECTOR BODY FOR MAKING THE CONNECTOR A DYNAMIC
COMPONENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAVING SECTIONS CONNECTED BY THE
CONNECTOR, filed Jan. 15, 2003, U.S. Express Mail No. EV 137 072
737 US.
[0004] The subject matter of the related application is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention pertains to the fields of electrical
devices, including lighting (as provided by lamps) and optical
devices generally, such as lamps, LEDs, photocells, VCSELs
(Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers), microwave diodes and
laser diodes, and, more particularly, to holders for such
diodes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] With the continuing development of high-intensity,
long-lived, high-efficiency light emitting diodes (LEDs), it is
expected that incandescent and fluorescent lighting will eventually
become obsolete. The development of gallium nitride (GaN)
semiconductor material, which makes possible providing white light,
and the continuing progress in manufacturing GaN in bulk are in
combination the major impetus for growth in the light emitting
diode industry.
[0007] Not only are LEDs expected to replace incandescent and
fluorescent lights for general illumination, but diode-based
sources of other kinds of radiation besides visible are expected to
replace existing corresponding devices in the next decade. For
example, laser diodes are expected to be used not only in low-power
applications such as telecommunications as they are now, but also
as high-power lasers, replacing other kinds of lasers now used in
such applications as cladding, cutting, drilling, surface
modification (heat treating, glazing, surface alloying), and
welding. Moreover, diode-based lasers (semiconductor lasers) are
being further developed; a new kind of such a laser is a VCSEL
(Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser), which is already having a
dramatic influence in computing and networking, sensing, and other
applications. Typical applications of VCSELs include: fiber optic
data links, proximity sensors, encoders, laser range finders, laser
printing, bar code scanning, and optical storage. In addition to
the existing and anticipated uses of diodes as sources of
radiation, diodes are currently of use not only as sources of
radiation, but also as receivers, such as in detecting light so as
to turn off or on an electrical device, i.e. for use in
photocells.
[0008] With the apparently inevitable replacement of conventional
lighting by LEDs and the further development and increasing use of
diodes as sources and receivers for all kinds of radiation, what is
needed is a holder, i.e. a plug and socket, for such diodes,
ideally a holder that allows control over an assembly of such
diodes so as to be able to, for example, vary the intensity of
light produced by such diodes, or vary the color of the light (by
connecting or disconnecting from a circuit diodes providing
different colors of light that in combination yield the desired
color).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention provides a holder
comprising a plug and socket, wherein the socket includes a diode
able to serve as a source or receiver of visible or invisible
radiation, wherein the socket has an elongated longitudinally
extending cavity formed therein as the inner surface of a shell and
includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced mutually insulated
first contact elements disposed within said cavity, wherein the
plug slidably registers with said cavity between advanced and
retracted positions and has a leading end directed toward the base
of said cavity, wherein the plug includes a plurality of
longitudinally spaced, mutually insulated second contact elements
disposed along said plug, and wherein the holder includes means
maintaining a predetermined angular orientation between said plug
and socket during relative sliding thereof and permitting relative
rotation thereof at said plug advanced position, said first contact
elements and second contact elements being out of engagement at
said predetermined angular orientation and in engagement upon
rotation in a single predetermined sense from said predetermined
angular orientation to a closed contact position.
[0010] In accord with the first aspect of the invention, the diode
may be for example a light-emitting diode (LED), or it may be a
laser diode, or it may be a photocell diode, or it may be a
microwave diode et al.
[0011] Also in accord with the first aspect of the invention, the
holder may include a controller for controlling current to the
diode. Further, the controller may be a resistor or may be an
integrated circuit, or may control a switchable bank of resistors.
Also further, the socket may include a plurality of diodes, and the
controller may control a plurality of banks of resistors, each for
limiting current to a respective diode or a series/parallel array
of diodes. Also further, the diode may be provided as a
series/parallel array of individual diodes; such an array may be
either a two-dimensional array or a three-dimensional array, and
may be either a purely series array or a purely parallel array or a
series/parallel array, and, in addition, the output of the
individual diodes may be in phased relation, with the array using
for the individual diodes either diode sources or diode receivers
of radiation.
[0012] Also in accord with the first aspect of the invention, the
holder may include a plurality of longitudinally aligned sets of
the longitudinally spaced second contact elements and a
corresponding plurality of longitudinally aligned sets of the first
longitudinally spaced contact elements, and the peripheries of the
sets of second contact elements may be of arcuate configuration
extending circumferentially about the plug for less than
360.degree. and in a straight line, lengthwise of the holder.
[0013] Also in accord with the first aspect of the invention, the
socket may include a well portion defined by a cylindrical wall,
the inner surface thereof having longitudinally spaced recesses
formed therein, the first contact elements being located in the
recesses and normally projecting above the upper edges thereof and
being resiliently inwardly urged by the second contact elements
during engagement therewith, and including lugs connected to the
first contact elements and projecting through said cylindrical
wall.
[0014] Also in accord with the first aspect of the invention, the
orienting means may be defined by at least one longitudinally
extending groove formed in one of the holder members and at least
one slidably engaging protuberance mounted on the other of the
members.
[0015] Still also in accord with the first aspect of the invention,
the plug and socket may each include in a respective longitudinally
extending center cavity an end of at least one conductor adapted
for conveying high frequency and other signals and means for
connecting the ends. Further, the conductor adapted for conveying
the high frequency signals in the socket may be terminated in an
integrated circuit embedded in the socket. Also further, the
conductor adapted for conveying the high frequency signals in the
socket may be terminated in at least one of the diodes held by the
socket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from a consideration of the
subsequent detailed description presented in connection with
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an LED holder according to
the invention, including a plug section and a socket section, and
illustrated in uncoupled condition;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a medial longitudinal sectional view of the plug
section;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary medial longitudinal sectional view
of the socket section;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.
3;
[0021] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of
the invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6
in FIG. 5;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an interconnected plug and
socket;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the arrangement and
interconnection of components of the LED holder of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative
arrangement and alternative interconnection of components of the
LED holder of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a
series/parallel arrangement of LEDs for use in the LED holder of
FIG. 1; and
[0027] FIGS. 11A and 11B are a schematic diagram of two views of a
diode bulb of an LED holder according to the invention, with the
diode bulb including an array of diodes.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0028] The invention will now be described as an elongated holder
(plug and socket) for an array of LEDs (light emitting diodes) in a
preferred embodiment in which connections for the LEDs, including
connections to a controller embedded in the holder, are arranged
along the length of the elongated holder, so as to save space
compared to arrangements in which such connections are arranged in
a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The invention
should, however, be understood to encompass both kinds of
arrangements, and should also be understood not to be limited to
holders for LEDs, but to encompass holders for diode-based
radiation transmitters/sources and receivers for all kinds of
radiation, not only visible radiation. In the preferred embodiment,
the socket also includes an embedded integrated circuit for
performing various functions in respect to operation of the array
of LEDs, but the invention is not limited to such a socket.
[0029] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
FIGS. 1 to 4, 7 and 8, a holder 100 is shown as including a plug 10
and a socket 11, with the socket 11 including a controller 200
provided as an integrated circuit (IC) embedded in the socket via
an opening 201 of the casing of the socket 11, and with the socket
11 also including a diode bulb 300 comprising an array of LEDs 301
and a lens 302, with each LED 301 connected to a respective feed
23a and return 23b connected to a power source (not shown) through
corresponding conductors 23a and 23b in the plug 10, as described
below. The lens may be a compound lens, i.e. there may be a
separate lens for each LED 301. The socket 11, consisting of the
diode bulb 300 and the other components that in effect serve as the
diode bulb terminal, is able to be unscrewed in the sense described
below or unplugged, as is e.g. a so-called bayonet connection;
thus, the diode bulb 300 can be unscrewed or unplugged and replaced
(and then preferably recycled by replacing selected components),
much as an incandescent light bulb is replaced.
[0030] The plug 10 and socket 11 composition of the holder 100 is
intended to allow holding not only diodes, but any source or
receiver of radiation, and doing so in a way that allows easy
replacement of the socket-mounted sources or receivers. The holder
is intended for replaceably holding any radiation source or
receiver now in use or contemplated, and preferably a plurality of
such radiation sources or receivers, including for example any
source of general illumination, such as a lamp or an LED, and
including for example photocells, VCSELs (Vertical Cavity Surface
Emitting Lasers), microwave diodes and laser diodes. The
arrangement of the plug 10 and socket 11 connections is especially
advantageous in that it allows replaceably holding not only a
plurality of the same kind of radiation sources or receivers, but
also a plurality of different kinds of radiation sources or
receivers, such as a plurality of LEDs along with a plurality of
incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, and doing so compactly due to
arranging connections between the socket 11 and plug 10 along the
length of the elongated holder 100.
[0031] Plug 10 is formed of an insulating material such as
thermoplastic or thermosetting resin and includes a longitudinally
extending tubular shank 13 having a tapered frusto-conical leading
end 14 and provided at its trailing end with an enlarged head 16,
which defines a finger manipulating piece. Shank 13 is of
substantially circular transverse cross-section and is provided
with diametrically opposite longitudinally extending flat surfaces
17 extending from the tip 14 thereof to a point short of the head
16, flats 17 being closer to the axis of the shank 13 than the
remaining arcuate peripheral surface thereof.
[0032] Located on one of the arcuate surfaces of shank 13 adjacent
tip end 14 are a pair of longitudinally spaced upright projections
18 having substantially parallel side walls, the forward projection
being immediately posterior to the leading end 14 of the shank 13
and the rear projection being just forward of plug head 16. On the
opposite arcuate surface of the shank 13 there may be located
longitudinally spaced prismatic projections 19 which are
diametrically opposite to the respective projections 18.
[0033] A set of longitudinally spaced and longitudinally aligned
arcuate metal contact elements 20 are embedded in shank 13 along
one of the arcuate peripheral surfaces thereof. The contact
elements 20 extend circumferentially for less than 180.degree. and
their outer surface is coplanar with the arcuate peripheral surface
of the shank 13 and their edges coplanar with flats 17. Another set
of longitudinally spaced, longitudinally aligned arcuate contact
elements 21 are provided, laterally aligned with the first set, the
outer surfaces of elements 21 being coplanar with the arcuate
surface of shank 13, the end edges of corresponding pairs of
contact elements 20 and 21 being laterally spaced from each other.
Formed in the outer surface of each of the contact elements 20 21
intermediate the ends thereof is an arcuate recess 22.
[0034] Connected to each of contact elements 20 and 21 is an
insulator covered conductor 23, which could be a feed 23a or a
return 23b or one or another other conductor used in connection
with the operation of the LED holder 100. The end of the conductor
23 is soldered to a corresponding contact element, the conductors
23 being disposed along the inner peripheral base of shank 13 and
extending longitudinally through the trailing end thereof.
[0035] Housed in and coaxial with shank 13 is a tubular strength
member 50, preferably made of metal but also advantageously made
from a hard plastic, which projects through the leading end of the
shank 13, the insulated conductor 23 being sandwiched between the
confronting faces of shank 13 and the tubular strength member
50.
[0036] The socket 11 (see especially FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) includes a
longitudinally extending inner shell 32 with interior surface
defining a longitudinally extending cavity, the shell preferably
formed of an insulating plastic material in any well known manner
and having at its trailing end an enlarged head 33 of hexagonal
cross-section. A pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally
extending grooves 34 and 36 respectively are formed in the inner
face of the shell 32 and extend from the open trailing end thereof
to a point short of the leading end. Groove 34 is of channel-shaped
transverse cross-section corresponding in shape to the plug
protuberance 18, and the groove 36 is of triangular transverse
cross-section corresponding in shape to the plug protuberance 19,
to permit sliding engagement between the corresponding grooves and
plug protuberances and permitting sliding engagement between the
plug and socket only at a predetermined orientation or polarization
when the protuberances 18 and 19 register with the grooves 34 and
36. The relative sliding of the plug 10 and socket 11 is a
non-shorting sliding in that the contacts of the plug do not touch
the contacts of the socket during the sliding.
[0037] The grooves 34 and 36 (at their leading end) terminate in
and communicate with circumferentially extending channel-shaped
grooves as 37 (FIG. 1) which extend approximately 90.degree.
clockwise as viewed forwardly from end 33. Also formed in the inner
face of the shell 32 in the neighborhood of the head portion 33
(FIG. 4) are a pair of oppositely disposed channel-shaped
circumferential grooves 38 which extend clockwise from each of the
longitudinal grooves 34 and 36 for approximately 90.degree.. The
longitudinal spacing between grooves 37 and 38 is equal to the
longitudinal spacing between the plug protuberances 18 and 19.
Thus, plug 10 may be inserted into socket 11 upon proper
polarization, and following the full insertion of the plug within
the socket, the plug may be rotated clockwise 90.degree., as viewed
from the open end of the socket, the protuberances 18 and 19
engaging and locking in grooves 37 and 38.
[0038] Formed in the inner face of the inner shell 32 are two
diametrically opposed longitudinal sets of circumferentially
extending channel-shaped recesses 40 disposed between grooves 34
and 36. The center spacing between successive recesses 40 is
substantially the same as the spacing between successive plug
contact elements 20 or 21, and the recesses 40 of the opposite sets
are laterally aligned. Disposed in each of recesses 40 is a contact
element 41 formed of a resilient strip of metal. Each contact
element 41 includes a curved section 42 having its convex portion
directed inwardly towards the axis of shell 32 and provided with a
centrally facing protuberance 43 adapted to engage recess 22 formed
in the corresponding plug contact element 20 or 21. Radially
projecting arm 44 extends from one end of the contact element
curved portion 42 through the wall of inner shell 32 and terminates
in a circumferentially extending lug 46 substantially superimposed
upon the outer wall of inner shell 32. The free end of contact
element curved portion 42 is oppositely bent, as at 47, and bears
against the base of the corresponding recess 40. The crown of the
contact element convex portion 42, as well as the protuberance 43,
project inwardly of the inner cylindrical wall of the shell 32 when
in normal unstressed condition. The contact elements 20, 21 and 41
may be formed of any suitable conducting material such as brass or
copper and are preferably electroplated in accordance with
conventional practice with palladium or other suitable metal to
provide greater corrosion-and abrasion-resistance and a better
electrical contact surface.
[0039] The contacts 20 and 21 of the plug do not touch the contacts
41 of the socket during the sliding of the plug into the socket.
Thus, as mentioned, the relative sliding of the plug 10 and socket
11 is a non-shorting sliding.
[0040] An intermediate cylindrical shell 49 (FIG. 3) is formed of
an insulating material such as a plastic material, and may be
integrally formed with the inner shell 32 or firmly adhered
thereto. Lugs 46 of the contact elements 41 are embedded in the
intermediate shell 49 and are connected to insulator covered
conductors 75, which are also embedded in the intermediate shell 49
and extend longitudinally in the wall of the shell through the
leading end thereof. It should be noted that the insulation
covering 75 as well as that covering conductors 23 associated with
the plug 10 may be color-coded in the well-known manner. A tubular
metal shell 51a tightly engages the intermediate shell 49, the
leading edge thereof being inwardly inclined to engage the
corresponding beveled surface of the intermediate shell, as in FIG.
3.
[0041] In coupling the plug and socket, plug 10 is aligned with and
oriented relative to socket 11 so that the protuberances 18 and 19
engage the longitudinal grooves 34 and 36 respectively. As plug 10
is slid into socket 11, the flats 17 thereof confront the socket
contact elements 41, whereas the plug contact elements 20 and 21 do
not engage the contact elements 41 but merely slide along the inner
surface of the insulating shell 32. In order to effect engagement
between the contact plug elements 20 and 21 and the socket contact
elements 41, the plug is rotated clockwise, as seen in FIG. 7. In
this latter position, the plug and socket are in coupled contact
closed position. As plug 10 is rotated relative to socket 11, the
plug contact elements are conveyed along the socket contact
elements 41 resiliently urging the latter forwardly until the
contact recesses 22 are in registry with the contact protuberances
43, in which position the plug and socket are in contact closed
position. The reverse procedure is followed in effecting a contact
open position and subsequently uncoupling the plug from the
socket.
[0042] In FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing, there is illustrated
another embodiment of the present invention differing from that
above described primarily in that a contact post 86 is provided on
a plug 80 for facilitating connections thereto, it being understood
that such expedient may be employed with the socket 11 shown in
FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, plug 80 includes
the IC 200 in an opening 201 in a housing 89 for the contact post
86 (an IC that may be instead of or in addition to an IC embedded
in the mating socket), and comprises a leading coupling section 81
similar in construction to plug 10 as above described, including a
shank 82 carrying the contact elements 83 in the manner earlier
described. Coaxial with and projecting rearwardly from the trailing
head end of the shank 82 is a tubular post 86, along the length of
which is mounted a plurality of longitudinally and
circumferentially spaced metal connector ears or lugs 87 provided
with arms projecting through the wall of the post 86 into the
interior thereof. Each of the contact elements 83 is electrically
connected to a respective lug 87 by a corresponding conductor
extending along the interior of shank 82 and post 86.
[0043] The housing 89 for the contact post 86 is open-ended and
tubular and has at least its inner face formed of an insulating
material; it is slidable over the contact post 86 with its
peripheral wall radially spaced therefrom the leading inner border
of the housing 89 separably snugly engaging an annular shoulder 90
formed on the trailing face of the plug head 91. Insulation covered
conductors 92 have their ends soldered or otherwise connected to
corresponding lugs 87 and extend through the trailing opening of
the housing 89 and are connected as desired. Plug 80 may be
employed with socket 11 as earlier described or with a socket
modified in the manner of plug 80.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 8, the internal wiring and component
arrangement of the holder 100 is shown, with the plug 10 providing
the feed 23a and the return 23b for the respective LED 301 in the
socket 11, with the controller IC 200 in-line with the feed 23a.
The controller IC 200 provides typically a variable
current-limiting resistance for controlling the intensity of the
light provided by the LED 301 in the array of LEDs within the diode
bulb 300, with the diode bulb 300 providing the light from the LEDs
via the lens 302. The controller IC 200 is provided with power via
a pair of power supply conductors 23d, one at a first voltage (V+)
and the other at a second voltage (V-). The controller IC 200
receives commands (such as to change the current limiting
resistance to another value) via a controller input conductor 23c.
(The power supply conductors 23d and the controller input conductor
23c, along with the feed 23a and return 23b, are shown in FIGS. 1-7
as the conductors 23.) As indicated (by the various ellipses), the
holder 100 includes a plurality of LEDs 301 and corresponding
conductors 23a-d and respective inline controller ICs 200.
[0045] The conductors 23 can be connected to a typical line source
of electrical power, or can instead be connected to a battery
source of power so that the LED holder 100 can serve for example as
the principal component of a flashlight. Also, instead of including
an embedded controller IC 200, the LED holder 100 can include
simply in-line current limiting resistors.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 9, in some embodiments, to provide
variable current-limiting resistance or for otherwise controlling
the LEDs 301, instead of having a controller IC 200 for each LED
301, a single master controller IC 400, specially adapted to the
LED holder 100, is included in the socket 11 to operate banks 201
of in-line current limiting resistors so as to include one or more
of the resistors in the circuit for the corresponding LED 301. The
master controller IC 400 receives as an input control signal a
high-level command, such as reduce intensity to low or change color
to amber, and provides corresponding respective output signals for
the switchable banks 201 of resistors. In a simpler embodiment,
instead of providing a different output signal for each switchable
bank 201 of resistors, the master controller IC 400 provides a
single output control signal that is tapped so as to be provided to
each of the switchable banks 201 of resistors. Although the master
controller IC 400 and the controller ICs 200 are shown as included
in the socket 11, they can also of course be included in the plug
10, which in some applications can be preferable, since in
replacing the socket 11 (diode bulb and terminal), the controller
ICs 200 or the master controller IC 400 are not replaced. Also,
instead of having a bank 201 of resistors for each LED 301, which
allows for providing individual control, in applications where
individual control is not necessary a single bank of resistors (or
even a single resistor) or a smaller number of banks of resistors
can be used and two or more LEDs 301 can be connected in parallel
to a respective one of the banks of resistors. Also still, as shown
in FIG. 10, each of the LEDs 301 of FIGS. 8 and 9 can instead be a
series/parallel array 301'.
[0047] As mentioned the invention encompasses having the socket 11
serve as a holder not only for LEDs, but for all sources or
receivers of radiation. Thus, for example, the socket 11 can serve
as a holder for microwave diodes. In such an embodiment, in which
microwave diodes are used as either a source or receiver of
microwave radiation, in the diode bulb 300 of FIG. 1, the LEDs 301
are replaced by microwave diodes, and the lens 302 is replaced by a
parabolic reflector having a pickup dipole at the region of its
focus, with the microwave diodes all coupled to the parabolic
reflector via microwave feed lines. A microwave diode as used here
can be either a source or receiver of microwave radiation in the
same way as a diode can be either an LED (source of visible) or a
photodiode (receiver of visible). For example, a microwave diode
can be a source of microwave energy conveying a signal. In some
applications, such as detector applications, a microwave diode
receives an AC signal at a microwave frequency and mixes it with a
signal from a local oscillator to provide a DC rectified signal. As
other examples, a microwave diode can be used as a microwave mixer
or as a local oscillator in a radar system. In addition, a
microwave diode can be used as an RF source to be modulated in
low-power microwave communications (such as e.g. in cellular or
ordinary telephony and local area networks). Also, microwave diodes
are used in "phased array" radar systems including radar antennas
using electronic scanning by rapidly switching microwave diodes
mounted on the faces of the reflectors and simultaneously mixing
with the received reflected signals.
[0048] As another example of the versatility of the invention, the
socket 11 can serve as a holder for photocells (which in essence
function as LEDs in reverse). In such an embodiment, in the diode
bulb 300 of FIG. 1, the LEDs 301 are replaced by photocells.
[0049] The invention also encompasses embodiments in which the
diodes are coupled not only to ordinary electrical conductors (i.e.
direct current or low frequency current, as opposed to
radiofrequency or higher-frequency electrical currents). For such
other coupling, the holder 100 includes, in what is shown here as a
vacant cavity 510 (FIG. 2) in the plug 10 and a corresponding
aligned vacant cavity 511 (FIG. 3) in the socket 11, radiofrequency
conductors (coaxial type cabling) or optical conductors (such as
optical fiber type conductors) as shown and described in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,154,360, entitled MULTI-CONDUCTOR COAXIAL ELECTRICAL
CONNECTOR, issued Oct. 27, 1964, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,334,
entitled COMBINATION MULTI-CONDUCTOR/OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR,
issued Jul. 9, 2002, respectively, both hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety. The coupling of the radiofrequency or
optical conductors from the plug 10 to the socket 11 is as shown
and described in the respective above patents, and the conductors
are then terminated in the socket 11 either in ICs 200 embedded in
the socket 11 (for example for providing power to the ICs or for
providing control signals for the ICs), or in the diodes 301 held
by the socket 11. Thus, the plug 10 includes in a longitudinally
extending center cavity 510, and the socket 11 includes in what
would be a corresponding longitudinally extending center cavity 511
(indicated by dashed lines 511a) an end of at least one conductor
adapted for conveying high frequency signals, such as
radiofrequency, microwave, or optical, and means for connecting the
ends, and the conductor adapted for conveying the high frequency
signals in the socket 11 is terminated either in one or more
integrated circuits embedded in the socket 11, or in at least one
of the diodes 301 301' held by the socket 11.
[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the series/parallel
array fixture 301' of FIG. 10 is shown in more detail in case of a
purely parallel array 301" (and emphasizing the two-dimensional
nature of the array). The diode bulb 300 in the socket 11 (FIG. 9)
is shown in FIG. 11 as including the array fixture 301" made up of
a two-dimensional array of individual LEDs 301'" each having a feed
23a and a return 23b leading to the plug 10 (FIG. 9). The feed 23a
or return 23b may also be connected to the switchable bank 201 of
resistors also preferably included in the socket 11. The diode bulb
300 may include a single lens 302 for all the LEDs of the array
fixture 301", or each individual LED 301'" may have its own lens
302' (shown in dash-dot line). The array fixture 301' preferably
includes from 50 to several hundred LEDs, and the LEDs may be
arranged in a rectangular array as shown in FIG. 1, or in any other
configuration. For example, the LEDs may be arranged in a
two-dimensional circular array, or a two-dimensional array in any
other shape, or may even be arranged so that the light-emitting (or
receiving) surfaces define not a two-dimensional surface but
instead a three-dimensional body. The same holds true for the
series/parallel array fixture 301' of FIG. 10.
[0051] An array fixture 301' 301" can be used not only to provide
greater intensity (as an emitter or source of light or other
radiation) or greater sensitivity (as a receiver of radiation), but
can also be used in other ways. For example, in case of an array of
LEDs, to allow for changing the overall color of the light provided
by the array, the array can include different LEDs producing light
of different color and the intensity of the different colored light
from the different LEDs can be varied. As another example, in case
of an array of microwave diodes, the array can be configured as a
phased array (described above), or, in case of laser diodes, can be
configured as a high-power laser.
[0052] It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements
are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the
present invention. In particular, as explained above, the invention
is of use not only as a holder for LEDs, but as a holder for diodes
serving as a source or receiver for any king of visible or
invisible radiation. Numerous modifications and alternative
arrangements to those described above may be devised by those
skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present
invention, and the appended claims are intended to cover such
modifications and arrangements.
* * * * *